GRE B and C Words

Question 1

balk

Answer 1

Refuse to proceed or to do something

Question 2

banal

Answer 2

Lacking freshness and originality; cliché

Question 3

bane

Answer 3

Something that ruins or spoils

Question 4

base

Answer 4

Morally low, mean, dishonorable; of little or
no value; crude and unrefined; counterfeit

Question 5

baying

Answer 5

Howling in a deep way, like a dog or wolf

Question 6

belie

Answer 6

Contradict or misrepresent

Question 7

beneficent

Answer 7

Doing good

Question 8

bent

Answer 8

Personal inclination or tendency

Question 9

besiege

Answer 9

Attack, overwhelm, crowd in on or surround

Question 10

bevy

Answer 10

Group of birds or other animals that stay close
together; any large group

Question 11

bifurcate

Answer 11

To fork into two branches or divide into two
halves

Question 12

bilk

Answer 12

Cheat or defraud

Question 13

blight

Answer 13

Disease that kills plants rapidly, or any cause
of decay or destruction (noun); ruin or cause
to wither (verb)

Question 14

blithe

Answer 14

Joyous, merry; excessively carefree (so as to
ignore more important concerns)

Question 15

bolster

Answer 15

Strengthen or support

Question 16

bonhomie

Answer 16

Friendliness, open and simple good
heartedness

Question 17

boor

Answer 17

Rude, ill-mannered, or insensitive person; a
peasant or country bumpkin

Question 18

brandish

Answer 18

Shake, wave, or flourish, as a weapon

Question 19

brook

Answer 19

Suffer or tolerate

Question 20

bucolic

Answer 20

Pertaining to shepherds; suggesting a
peaceful and pleasant view of rural life

Question 21

burgeon

Answer 21

Grow or flourish rapidly; put forth buds or
shoots (of a plant)

Question 22

burnish

Answer 22

Polish, make smooth and lustrous

Question 23

cacophony

Answer 23

Harsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of
sounds

Question 24

calumny

Answer 24

Malicious lie intended to hurt someone’s
reputation; the act of telling such lies

Question 25

canard

Answer 25

Rumor, a false or baseless story

Question 26

canonical

Answer 26

Authorized, recognized; pertaining to the canon, or body of accepted rules, standards or artistic works

Question 27

capricious

Answer 27

Acting on impulse, erratic

Question 28

cardinal

Answer 28

Chief, most important

Question 29

cartography

Answer 29

Mapmaking

Question 30

castigate

Answer 30

Criticize severely; punish in order to correct

Question 31

catholic

Answer 31

Universal, broad-minded

Question 32

caustic

Answer 32

Capable of corroding metal or burning the skin; very critical or sarcastic

Question 33

censure

Answer 33

Strong disapproval or official reprimand (noun); to issue such disapproval or reprimand (verb)

Question 34

chicanery

Answer 34

Trickery, deception by knowingly false arguments

Question 35

circumscribe

Answer 35

Strictly limit a role, range of activity, or area; in math, to be constructed around so as to touch as many points as possible

Question 36

circumspect

Answer 36

Cautious, prudent; careful to consider the circumstances and consequences

Question 37

clamber

Answer 37

Climb awkwardly or with difficulty, scramble

Question 38

clamor

Answer 38

Noisy uproar or protest, as from a crowd; a loud, continuous noise

Question 39

clinch

Answer 39

Make final or settle conclusively; to fasten or hold together

Question 40

cloying

Answer 40

Disgustingly or distastefully sweet

Question 41

coagulate

Answer 41

Cause a liquid to become solid or semisolid

Question 42

coalesce

Answer 42

Come together, unite; fuse together

Question 43

coffer

Answer 43

Chest for storing valuables; financial resources, a treasury

Question 44

cogent

Answer 44

Very convincing, logical

Question 45

compendium

Answer 45

Concise but complete summary; a list or collection

Question 46

complaisant

Answer 46

Eager to please; cheerfully complying

Question 47

construe

Answer 47

Interpret or translate

Question 48

contrite

Answer 48

Remorseful; feeling sorry for one's offenses or sins

Question 49

contumacious

Answer 49

Rebellious; stubbornly disobedient

Question 50

conundrum

Answer 50

Riddle, the answer to which involves a play on words; any mystery

Question 51

conversant

Answer 51

Knowledgeable about or experienced with

Question 52

convoke

Answer 52

Call together, as to a meeting

Question 53

cosset

Answer 53

Treat as a pet, pamper

Question 54

coterie

Answer 54

Close or exclusive group, clique

Question 55

countenance

Answer 55

Facial expression or face (noun); approve or tolerate (verb)

Question 56

covert

Answer 56

Secret, veiled, undercover

Question 57

craven

Answer 57

Very cowardly, lacking courage

Question 58

credulous

Answer 58

Gullible; prone to believing or trusting too easily or without enough evidence

Question 59

crescendo

Answer 59

Steady increase in force, intensity, or the loudness of a musical passage; a climactic moment or peak

Question 60

cupidity

Answer 60

Greed, great or excessive desire

Question 61

curmudgeon

Answer 61

Bad-tempered, difficult person; grouch

Question 62

cynical

Answer 62

Thinking the worst of others' motivations; bitterly pessimistic